Utility company wanting to charge me for their wasted journey.

[Whattoweartoposhdo]

I wonder if anyone can offer advice on this situation please?

I am a landlord and the utility company supplying a rented property wanted to change the meters. They phoned me several times regarding this and an appointment was arranged.

I took the day off work and drove over 30 miles to be there for the 4 hour appointment slot.

The engineer arrived and I showed him where the meter was located. He said he needed access to the central electricity cupboard for the block of flats.

He told me this would be locked and a key would be needed from the local council as freeholders. He mentioned he encountered a similar situation several times last week.

I had no idea they would need this access.

They replaced a meter in a similar ( although not identical) property a few months ago with no issue.

It is apparently my responsibility to arrange this access.

I was quite annoyed that I had a wasted journey. Before I had even got home the utility company phoned me to arrange another appointment and suggested that there might be a charge for today’s wasted call.

To be frank I think they should pay me.

I have had this flat for over 10 years and no one has ever needed access to the central cupboard in all this time. I didn’t even know it existed.

They did know that access might be needed, depending upon the layout and if they had put a general 2 line message to say that sometimes access is needed to a central area and to ensure it is unlocked I would have been able to organise this.

I am still furious about wasting a precious day’s leave and may not be thinking as rationally as I should.

Is it reasonable for them to have assumed that I would know about the central cupboard and have organised access, which would make me responsible for their wasted journey?

What for? It’s their metre. You provided access. They should’ve sent you a list of things to check before the appointment if there are specific things you need to check before the appointment. Tell them to jog on.

I share your opinion.

The engineer had several other visits nearby.

I had travelled for well over an hour to get there. I think I am the injured party here.

I was still in the car so using hands free, which isn’t always that clear, but they suggested that I hadn’t given the engineer access to everywhere needed.

They are sort of correct but I gave them access to the meter in my flat and I had no way of knowing they needed anything further.

They want to change the metres, you don’t. So why should you pay?

Quote their message vack to them.

The booking for the previous appointment will ssy something like "we will require access to the meter cupboard, will need to switch off the power for aprox 30 mins, and may require XYZ" point out that all that was requested was available, and therefor you met your obligations.

Tbh, I’d counter them with that position.
I remember when we wanted to go onto a metre to save money, there was a mysterious 6 month delay for appointments. I told them I expect them to charge me at the lower rate, or get me in within the next 2 weeks. After a bit of back and forth, as luck would have it, they had a cancellation.
I think you just have to tell them how it’s going to work. They’re trying their luck. Most of them are in a lot of debt.

They can’t charge you a call out fee for a service they are forcing on you. Let them try. Don’t pay anything!

Ignore them and if the meters don't need changing I.e. they haven't stopped working don't bother!
Is it to upgrade to smart meters? Credit or top up meters?

However also it's up to the tenant to change their tariff or meter if they want. You don't need to be involved. I presume it's empty?

It’s a shared house, so the contract is in my name.
There’s nothing wrong with the old meter as far as I am aware. They have a rolling programme to install smart meters, so assume that is the reason.

I'd ignore all further comms then. It's because they have a target of so many smart meters installed by a certain date. So rude of them